Inner city schools segregate as suburban schools diversify

Minneapolis and St. Paul public elementary schools have returned to levels of segregation not seen since the early 1980s, while suburban schools are more diverse than ever before, according to a Star Tribune analysis of enrollment data for public elementary schools in the 7-county metro.

Segregation in this case is defined as schools that are 80 percent or more minority or 80 percent or more white.

Note: Inner-ring suburban schools are those that are located inside the I-694/I-494 beltway. This analysis includes data for public school districts in Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, Anoka, Carver and Scott counties.